From: "Thabit” Organization for the Right of Return

To: Arab and Foreign ambassadors authorized in Beirut, Arab league representative, UN secretary-general, consulates, diplomatic missions..

Ladies and Gentlemen,

"Thabit” Organization for the Right of Return, grant you best regards, hope you all success, and good fortune...

It’s our pleasure to put in hands, the outcomes of "Thabit” workshop entitled, "Roll of UNRWA in Syrian Crisis”.

The workshop was held in Beirut on 5-9-2012, attended by the Palestinian ambassador representative in Lebanon Mr. Dabbor, the chief of Committee for Employment of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (CEP), the ambassador Samir Khoury, Palestinian faction’s representatives, popular committees, public boards, local and international NGOs, expertise, academics, specialists and media.

The workshop focused on four domains, after Lebanese and Palestinian hymn, an opening speech represented by "Thabit” general manager, Mr. Ali Hweidi followed by the first paper to Mr. Ahmad Albash, the researcher in the Palestinian Return Community "Wajib” in Damascus, presenting a "General look on the Palestinian Refugees in Syria” then, Mr. Hicham Mnawwar, the Palestinian writer and researcher, presented a paper titled "Local outlook of UNRWA services in Syria”,  Followed by, a paper presented by Mr. Moueen Mannaa, the researcher in Al-Zaitouna Center for studies and consultations, in Beirut titled "Role of UNRWA in providing relief services for displaced Palestinians (DP) to its operational areas (Lebanon and Jordon). 

Mrs. Emily David, UNRWA representative in Lebanon in the workshop, presented general views of Pal. refugees in Lebanon, and the services offered by UNRWA to DP from Syria to Lebanon.

After questions raised, intervention, comments, and discussion, following conclusions and outcomes were drawn:

-          The participants confirmed the significant role played by UNRWA in offering its services to the Pal. refugees in the five regions, since it represents the international legal and materialistic witness of the Pal. refugee’s status since 1948 until the return is maintained.

-          The participants showed interest in the significance of the workshop since it is the first time considering the role of UNRWA was raised since the beginning of Syrian Crisis.

-          The participants marked the shortening in UNRWA services offered to the Syrian Camps, especially Al-Yarmouk, where as NGOs fill the gap partially, the essential responsibility rests with UNRWA.

-          Numbers of DP crossed among the local, about ten thousand in Lebanon, about 90% inside the camps, and almost one thousand in Jordon.

-          The participants showed concern on the aggravation of the economical, social, health, and psychological situation of the DP, living in a very crowded camps with very difficult social and economical circumstances, and wondered of the fact of special needs, pregnant, newly born, and people with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, cancer, and else..

-          They’ve also showed concern on the role of Pal. woman and her opportunity in following up the situation of the DP, with necessary and essential needs.

-          The participants were worried about the destiny of the newly displaced students joining UNRWA schools where there is discrepancy in the curriculum considering the rush of parents in registering their children at schools to seek safely and stability first.

-          They’ve also showed amazement of UNRWA Syrian representative’s disconnection using a fragile justification "due to the current incidents” which they’ve considered as un-acceptable.

-          The participants showed resentment of the UNRWA’s delay in offering services to the DP, especially as the process of displacement has occurred within UNRWA’s field of operations that requires quick procedures, also participants believes that after the pressure exercised by (NGOs "Local and Int.”, Pal. Factions, popular committees and DP themselves..),  represented by statements and meetings, the services were limited by health, education, and the registration of DP in cooperation with popular committees.

-          The participants wondered of the cause of not raising any report or declaration or even an official explanation by UNRWA since the early displacement, explaining the causes of not providing relief services for DP.

-          The participants were worried that the UNRWA in Beirut didn’t call for any emergency meeting for the UNRWA council as it did in Jordon where a meeting was held in 18-6-2012, as a result an immediate service of nutrition, education, and health for the DP implemented.

-          The participants wondered of the cause of not responding UNRWA appeal of donors for DP, while donors responding for UNHCR for displaced Syrians.

-          The participants assured the significant role of Palestinian Public, Communal Panels, local and international NGOs. in offering necessary services for DP, welcoming the coordination with UNRWA, yet it doesn’t eliminate the main responsibility of UNRWA.

-          Since the volunteers donating countries didn’t respond to UNRWA appeal, the participants showed astonishment of not benefit of the regular relief services in Syria transforming to the DP in Lebanon or benefit of the emergency fund in Beirut or UNITED NATIONS FUND.

-          The participants assured the necessity that the agency should take part in fulfilling its role in relief and work agency for the Pal. refugees, preserving their right to return.  The participants were also keen on keeping and protecting the agency focusing on the monitoring role of NGOs with UNRWA to direct the compass on the diversion and improving the role and participation of the reforming process.

Thank you

Thabit Organization

Beirut: 17-9-2012